Nationwide public holiday on November 9 for Allama Iqbal Day
The federal government has declared Monday, November 9, 2026, a public holiday across Pakistan for Allama Iqbal Day. Banks, the State Bank, the stock exchange and schools in Sindh and Punjab will be closed.
- November 9, 2026 (Monday) is a nationwide public holiday for Allama Iqbal Day.
- The State Bank of Pakistan and the Pakistan Stock Exchange will stay closed.
- Schools in Sindh and Punjab will be closed under provincial notifications.
The federal government has announced a nationwide public holiday on Monday, November 9, 2026, to mark Allama Iqbal Day. According to the Cabinet Division's 2026 holiday schedule, the day is observed across the country to commemorate the birth anniversary of Allama Muhammad Iqbal. Daily Pakistan reported that the Cabinet Division issued a fresh notification on Thursday confirming the holiday.
Government offices and educational institutions are expected to remain closed. Normal activities will resume on Tuesday, November 10, according to TechJuice. It added that private organisations and essential services may follow their own arrangements.
The State Bank of Pakistan will stay closed on November 9, Business Recorder reported, saying the day is a public holiday declared by the Government of Pakistan. The Pakistan Stock Exchange also said it will remain closed that day. Its notice read: "All TRE Certificate Holders, staff and concerned are hereby informed that Pakistan Stock Exchange Limited will remain closed on Monday, November 9, 2026, being a national holiday on account of Allama Iqbal Day."
In Sindh, all public and private educational institutions will be closed on November 9, according to a notification from the Sindh School Education and Literacy Department issued on Wednesday. Daily Pakistan and Minute Mirror reported that the decision follows a meeting of the Steering Committee on Education held on February 12, 2026.
In Punjab, the School Education Department has announced the holiday through an official notification, Daily Pakistan reported. It directed all District Education Authorities to ensure that public and private institutions are closed. TechJuice also said the Punjab government issued a separate notification confirming the holiday across the province.
Because November 7 and 8 fall on a Saturday and Sunday, employees and students with those days off will have a three-day break from November 7 to 9. Daily Pakistan reported that banking operations will be suspended over the extended break.
Allama Iqbal Day is observed every year on November 9. Iqbal was born on that date in 1877 in Sialkot, according to TechJuice. Daily Pakistan Urdu described this year's occasion as his 149th birth anniversary.
Background
khabr.pk reported on 5 November that the federal cabinet ratified a defence cooperation agreement with Kuwait and approved new currency note designs and a Rs10 coin.
Why it matters
Government offices, banks and schools across the country will be closed, so people should plan visits and services around the break. Students in Sindh and Punjab get a day off under provincial notifications. With the State Bank and the Pakistan Stock Exchange closed, banking and share trading will pause on Monday, and many people will have a three-day weekend.
